When it comes to drivetrain, front-wheel drive simply dominates the Indian market. Of course why not, the vehicles that use a front-wheel-drive layout are cheaper in many aspects. But in other driving aspects, it is the Rear Wheel Drive drivetrain layout that sounds and feels better from behind the wheel. So, here are 10 such cars that used to offer or still offer an RWD drivetrain.
1. Maruti Suzuki Eeco
One of the oldest car or rather an MPV to be on this list is the Maruti Suzuki Eeco. This MPV has been among the top-selling vehicles from the Maruti Suzuki stable. We too were surprised to know that the Maruti Eeco is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. That said, the Eeco still comes powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. This motor is capable of generating 73ps of max power and 98Nm of max torque. Setting the power down to the rear wheels is the only option for 5-speed manual transmission.
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2. Mahindra Quanto/Nuvosport
Another vehicle to hide a transversely mounted engine under the hood is the Mahindra Quanto or the Nuvo sport. This is when Mahindra tried a subcompact 6/7 seater. Well, first it was the Mahindra Quanto, which was essentially a chopped Xylo. Later, the company gave it a little refreshed appeal and called it the Nuvosport. To start with, both the cars, Quanto and Nuvosport both shared the same powertrain and drivetrain under the hood. It was a 1.5-litre 3 cylinder diesel engine that used to generate a healthy 100ps of max power. Also, the torque output sat at 240Nm.
3. Mahindra TUV300
The Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra has always tried new alterations. The latest alteration with an RWD was the TUV300. Like the Quanto, the TUV300 also had its engine transversely mounted. This allowed the vehicle to be powered by an RWD drivetrain.
Not just the drivetrain, the powertrain was also shared with the Quanto. This means the power was set down on the road to the rear wheels via a 1.5-litre 3 cylinder turbo diesel motor. This motor was capable of generating 100hp of max power and 240Nm of peak torque. In the later stage, Mahindra also manufactured a TUV300 Plus. Which was a full-grown 6/7 seater SUV. Although, both the cars from the brand never made it to the hall of fame.
4. Mahindra Bolero
The vehicles with Rear Wheel Drive drivetrain usually are built for a purpose. This purpose can either be utility or off-road. But when it comes to one of the Mahindra’s top-selling vehicle Bolero, it is the former one. Mahindra Bolero has been there in the Indian market for more than a decade.
And, the sales numbers are ever creeping up. There can be are many aspects to its sales. To begin with, Bolero is built to last, also it is super reliable which is key in rural areas. In the end, a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain can do wonders when it comes to off-road.
5. Mahindra Scorpio
If a vehicle gets an RWD drivetrain, it is pretty obvious that it can also get a 4X4 drivetrain. But this is not always the case. Mahindra Scorpio is an SUV that shares many components from Mahindra’s range of cars, drivetrain is among them. Until now, Mahindra did use to offer Scorpio with 4X4. But after the implementation of the BS6 emission norms, the variant with a 4X4 drivetrain was discontinued.
Nevertheless, the company still offers this SUV with an RWD drivetrain. This may be subjected to change as the new or next-gen Scorpio arrives. A tried and tested 2.2-litre mHawk engine powers the Scorpio. This motor is capable of generating 120hp and 140hp of max power. Depending upon the trim, Scorpio can opt either with a 5-speed MT or a 6-speed manual gearbox.
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6. Tata Safari Storme
There was a time when Tata Safari was the vehicle that supported a ladder on frame chassis and was a Rear Wheel Driven SUV. It is a little hard to break it down, that the current generation of the Tata Safari is not only a monocoque but also runs on a front-wheel-drive drivetrain. Well, like the Scorpio, the previous-gen Safari also was offered with a 4X4 drivetrain.
This made it possible to take the SUV anywhere, including deep into the wild. The previous generation Tata Safari or the Safari Storme was powered by a 2.2-litre Varicor engine. This engine was capable of producing 150ps of max power and a whopping 320Nm of peak torque. This engine ensured that the SUV never felt underpowered.
7. Toyota Innova
An MPV that has been moving families comfortably in India for about a decade is the Toyota Innova. It is the Innova that pops in our head when we talk about transporting people or families. Well, it is interesting to report that Toyota did not lose its charm over the years.
Toyota Innova was and still is one of the best selling MPVs in the Indian market. One of the reasons behind this is exceptional power and drivetrain. From the day Innova was launched Innova has been a front-engine and rear-wheel-drive vehicle. This makes the vehicle effortless to drive under heavy loads.
8. Ford Endeavour
They are the off-road capabilities that come into our heads when we talk Ford Endeavour. But this American SUV also is available with an RWD only drivetrain. Well, this is for those who love to own a big and beefy SUV with a little compromise on off-road capabilities. Before the BS6 era, Endeavour used to come with either a 3.2-litre or a 2.2 turbo diesel engine.
But the current alteration only has an option of a 2.0-litre turbo diesel. This engine generates max power of 170ps and 420Nm of peak torque. Both, power and torque figures are similar for 4×2 as well as 4×4 options. Talking transmission, the engine sets the power down on the road via a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
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9. Toyota Fortuner
The next vehicle to offer two drivetrains, a 4X2 as well as a 4X4, is the Toyota Fortuner. In 2021 Toyota updated the full-grown SUV for India. In this transition, the vehicle got a more powerful engine and became more luxurious. This time around, Fortuner generates 201hp of max power and is capable of producing 500Nm of peak torque.
The best part is, you can opt for either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. This SUV from Toyota is the only vehicle in its segment that is available with a naturally aspirated petrol engine. Coming to the drivetrain, both diesel, as well as petrol, come with a Rear-wheel-drive setup.
10. MG Gloster
The Chinese owned British carmaker has the latest entry with the vehicle that is a rear-wheel drive. MG Gloster happens to be the latest vehicle under ₹35 lakhs to have this type of drivetrain. This luxury SUV came to India in 2020 and became an instant hit for buyers. It’ll not be wrong staying that the MG Gloster did capture some of the customers of Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.
When buying a Gloster one can opt for two 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines one with a single turbocharger and the other one with twin turbos. Though the topic of discussion has to be the one with a single turbo as it is the one that comes with a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain.
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you have not mentioned the humble TATA Nano which is also RWD !
The Tata Nano is not available for sale in India, as of now.